PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. (AP/WSVN) — Family members of those killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School joined U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz at a town hall meeting on gun violence.
Wasserman Schultz, a south Florida Democrat, hosted the meeting Saturday at a senior center located about 28 miles (45 kilometers) south of the Parkland school. Seventeen people were shot and killed at the school nearly two months ago.
The event was one of 121 town halls held across 34 states on Saturday. It’s part of The Town Hall Project, which was started in part by Stoneman Douglas students and survivors in the wake of the Feb. 14 massacre and the March For Our Lives protests.
Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter Jamie was killed, called on the crowd to stand up to “weak-kneed” state legislators who refuse to enact additional gun regulations.
Debbie Hixon, the wife of Chris Hixon, the school’s athletic director who was killed, praised state legislators for passing new gun restrictions this year. But she said that she will continue to push for a ban on the type of rifle that was used at the Parkland shooting.
Wasserman Schultz also credited Florida lawmakers for passing the new school safety law. She said the federal government needs to pass similar legislation, but it still doesn’t go far enough.
“I’m glad that they increased the age that people can buy weapons to 21 years old,” she said. “When you put limitations in the path of someone who would do someone harm with a weapon, that’s a positive thing, but it doesn’t change the fact that what we really have to do, in addition to investing in mental health and addressing other issues is make sure that people who want to do other people harm with a weapon can’t get access to a military-style assault weapon.”
A couple of protesters outside the venue told 7News they do not want stricter gun laws.
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